Lydian

A major mode with a raised 4th — dreamy and floating

Lydian is a major major mode with a raised 4th — the brightest of the three. The ♯4 lifts it above ordinary major, giving a dreamy, floating, otherworldly quality.

Built on the 4th degree of the major scale. Its major pentatonic subset is shared with ionian and mixolydian; the ♯4 and 7th define Lydian's character, the ♯4 being the signature note.

Common in film scores (wonder and awe), progressive rock, jazz, ambient, and video-game music — the go-to mode for "magical" or "expansive" sounds.

357912151719213♯4567C23♯4567C67C23♯4567C23♯423♯4567C23♯4567567C23♯4567C237C23♯4567C23♯453♯4567C23♯4567C
The instrumentTap a note to hear it.
C lydian
CCD♭2DD mixolydianE♭3EE aeolianF♯4F♯F♯ locrian5GG ionianA♭6AA dorianB♭7BB phrygian
C0D2E4F♯6G7A9B11
Circle of fifthsInside, the twelve notes by semitone — the wheel every set on this site is drawn on. Outside, the same twelve by fifths. 7 fifths from C — C G D A E B F♯. From C, lydian: C D E F♯ G A B.

On your instrument, in your key

OnguitarbassukulelemandolinpianoInCD♭DE♭EFF♯GA♭AB♭B

Related

Contained byMajor Major ModesMajor ModesContainsMajor PentatonicMajor TriadRoot & 5thParallel toPhrygianRelatedIonian (Major)MixolydianReferenced byMajor 7thTritone

Practiced in

Lydian AnchoredLydian Full RangeLydian Melodies (Range Shifting)Lydian Melodies (Timed)Lydian Melodies (Untimed)Lydian Anchored (Roving)Lydian Full Range (Roving)Lydian Melodies (Range Shifting)Lydian Melodies (Root Shuffling)